The Pistons will reach the midway point of the season on Monday with a solid grip on the top spot in the Eastern Conference. How have they achieved that status? In a subscriber-only story, The Detroit Free Press’ Omari Sankofa II breaks down three key elements to their success.
Sankofa highlights the Pistons’ defensive rating, points in the paint, and efficiency rating — they rank second in the league in each of those categories. Sankofa adds that the Pistons have won at least 30 of their first 40 games for just the second time in franchise history (along with 2005/06) and are on pace to win more than 60 games.
Here’s more on the Pistons:
- Key reserve and 2024 lottery pick Ron Holland is questionable to play in Monday’s showdown with the Celtics due to an illness, Hunter Patterson of The Athletic tweets. The Pistons and Celtics hold the top two spots in the Eastern Conference. Holland is averaging 8.4 points, 4.4 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 1.4 steals in 21.1 minutes per game this season.
- As you might expect, Sanfoka gives out a lot of high midterm grades to the members of the roster. Isaiah Stewart and Daniss Jenkins got As, while Jalen Duren earned an A-minus. What about Cade Cunningham? He gets a B-plus — his subpar three-point shooting dragged down his grade — and no one got anything lower than a B-minus.
- Speaking of Stewart and Duren, “Dawg Pound” is now painted above their lockers in Detroit’s home arena. Why? The Athletic’s Fred Katz interviews the big man duo to explain the mentality they take on and off the court.
Need another center to be a real contender.